"The Good Shepherd Prayers" - in a time of corvid-19 pandemic

Based on the image of the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34 and John 10

For the healing of the infected
O Lord our Shepherd,
you tend your sheep, bind their wounds and heal them.
We pray for the world and all who are infected by the corona virus.
As a Shepherd beside it's wounded sheep,
be beside all who are infected.
May they know your comforting presence,
the gentleness of your touch, the warmth of your loving embrace,
and experience your healing and wholeness.
In your name we pray.
Amen.



For families of the infected
O Lord our Shepherd,
you are Jehovah Shalom
our peace;
who keeps your sheep by still waters
and green pastures.
Give peace to families of the infected and the quarantined.
In their concern, uncertainty, fear
and their inability to be beside their loved one,
may they know your peace.
With you beside them, help them have hope in you
In your name we pray.
Amen




For the needy
O Lord our Shepherd,
You are Jehovah Jireh,
provider of all good things.
We pray for all who are in want in this time of pandemic.
Be with the poor, the daily wage workers, the small business owners,
and those from various industries - the farmers, the fishermen,
and all who's labour provides for our daily sustenance,
that their need would be met without discrimination.
In your name we pray.
Amen.



For medical staff
O Lord our Shepherd,
You are Jehovah Rapha,
healer and restorer of souls.
We pray for doctors, nurses and all medical staff.
We thank you for their dedication and commitment
and for sacrifices made, risking their lives and their families.
May they find comfort and strength in times of stress,
fear and tiredness,
that empowered by your spirit and strength they may continue to
be your instruments that bring healing and wholeness.
In your name we pray.
Amen.



For the discriminated and stigmatised
O Lord our Shepherd,
You are God of righteousness.
We pray for all the affected;
those who are discriminated in the distribution of relief,
the communities that are stigmatised,
those who are not welcome into their neighborhoods because of their work with the infected,
for the farmers who are deprived of a fair price,
and for those who discriminate and stigmatise,
Let justice prevail that they may know your righteousness in this time of need
In your name we pray.
Amen.




For the world
O Lord our Shepherd,
you know your sheep by name.
Have mercy and compassion on this world,
and clean it of corvid-19.
Anoint your people,
who are created in your likeness and image,
that they be responsible in these challenging times,
and may know your love
and experience your goodness
throughout this period of uncertainty
and in the life of the new normal.
In the assurance of being known,
in your holy name we pray.
Amen.



For protection
O Lord our Shepherd,
as the gate to the sheep pen you are our protection.
Protect our front line workers,
Protect those who work at contact point,
Protect our homes and our families,
Protect the children, the old and the vulnerable,
Protect our farmers and small businesses,
Protect the poor and the daily wage earners,
and those who have lost their jobs,
Protect those whose salaries have been reduced or cut,
Protect those who have financial commitments
and monthly bills to be paid,
Protect the minorities, the affected and all who are discriminated and stigmatised.
that they may know, that, committed to your protection
they can overcome challenges and find security in you who has promised to rescue your sheep from beasts, the fat sheep, and the shepherds who dont care but plunder.
In your name we pray.
Amen.




For leaders
O Lord our Shepherd
as a Good Shepherd you go before your sheep;
leading them in and out of the pen,
into rich pastures and still water,
in the paths of righteousness
and through the valleys of the shadow of death
You search for the lost,
You strengthen the week, heal the sick, bind the injured
and rescue them from dangers and snares.

We pray for the leaders of our nation,
that they may be examples to the citizens of our land,
and that they may govern the people
as you, our Good Shepherd did:
with justice and righteousness, compassion and mercy, honesty and integrity,
always having at heart the people they govern.

We pray for the leaders of the church,
that they may be examples to the flock entrusted to them
and be always faithful to you the chief shepherd
who has called them to serve.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lived, suffered died and rose again
and lives on as a our chief Shepherd.
Amen.



To walk in the ways of the Good Shepherd
Jesus our Good Shepherd,
we are the sheep of your pen and lack nothing.
You call us by name
and lead us in the path to fullness of life.
In these days of pandemic we thank you
for the promises we have in you.
In the assurance of your promises,
help us to
be a companion to the lonely,
bring healing to the sick,
provide for the needy,
feed the hungry,
strengthen the week,
support the vulnerable,
and be alive to all that happens around us,
that we too may stand up for your justice and righteousness.
Good Shepherd, teach us to be sheep that cares for one another,
that through the love that we show,
the world may know you.
To the glory of your name.
Amen.

lakshman daniel. Good Shepherd Sunday, 3rd May 2020. Badulla.